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'Huge Risk' of Terrorism Returns to Western Europe

'Huge Risk' of Terrorism Returns to Western Europe

SUBSCRIBER+EXCLUSIVE REPORTING — While the West’s attention has moved away from the once cataclysmic threat of Islamic terrorism to focus on the [...] More

EuropeCounterterrorismTerrorismISISReporting

The Latest

Biden's National Security Test

John McLaughlin

Biden's National Security Test

Cipher Brief Expert John McLaughlin is former Acting Director of the CIA, former Deputy CIA Director and is the Distinguished Practitioner in [...] More

North AmericaCipher Brief Expert ViewNuclearMiddle EastTerrorismEspionageTech/Cybernational securitySecurity/StabilityGlobal IssuesCIAEuropeRussiaIranNorth KoreaChinaAfghanistanPolicySyriaCounterterrorismIraqISIS

What a Biden Administration Means for the World

John McLaughlin

What a Biden Administration Means for the World

The Cipher Brief is a non-political media outlet focused on publishing expert perspectives on national security issues. We are committed to [...] More

North AmericaCipher Brief Expert ViewMiddle EastSecurity/StabilityGlobal IssuesCIAAsiaRussiaIranChinaIsraelIraqISIS

How Will a Biden Administration Engage the Middle East?

Emile Nakhleh

How Will a Biden Administration Engage the Middle East?

The Cipher Brief is a non-political media outlet focused on publishing expert perspectives on national security issues. We are committed to [...] More

Middle EastEmile NakhlehCipher Brief Expert ViewSecurity/StabilityIranPolicySaudi ArabiaIsraelSyriaIraqISIS

Trump's Pre-Election Search for a National Security Win

Walter Pincus

Trump's Pre-Election Search for a National Security Win

OPINION — President Trump and his team are trying to come up with at least one last minute foreign policy success before Election Day, just 21 days [...] More

Fine PrintNuclearIntelligenceTerrorismnational securitySecurity/StabilityGlobal IssuesRussiaAfghanistanCounterterrorismNorth AmericaWalter PincusISISFine Print

Recent Islamic State Attacks Demonstrate its Durability and Resilience

Intel Brief

Recent Islamic State Attacks Demonstrate its Durability and Resilience

Bottom Line Up FrontWhile much of the world has been struggling to respond to the fallout from the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the Islamic State [...] More

Middle EastSoufan CenterTerrorismISISIntel Brief
COVID and Navigating the New Middle East Challenges

COVID and Navigating the New Middle East Challenges

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has added a significant layer of uncertainty to an already complicated situation in the Middle East. The [...] More

Middle EastIntelligencenational securitySecurity/StabilityGlobal IssuesReportingIranIsraelSaudi ArabiaIraqSyriaISIS
OSINT Global Trendline Report: The Middle East and Africa

OSINT Global Trendline Report: The Middle East and Africa

The Cipher Brief’s Open Source Trend Line Report utilizes open source data on a quarterly basis to track trends around the world that impact national [...] More

AfricaIranNorth AfricaIntelligenceSaudi ArabiaIraqMiddle EastISISnational securityGlobal IssuesReporting

US Foreign Policy and a 'Bridge to the Unknown'

John McLaughlin

US Foreign Policy and a 'Bridge to the Unknown'

Cipher Brief Expert John McLaughlin is a distinguished practitioner in residence at the Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International [...] More

InternationalNuclearIntelligenceNATOMiddle EastTerrorismAlliesnational securitySecurity/StabilityGlobal IssuesEuropeRussiaIranNorth KoreaAfghanistanNorth AfricaPolicySyriaUkraineIraqSaudi ArabiaIsraelNorth AmericaISIS
The US Deal with the Taliban

The US Deal with the Taliban

The United States signed a peace agreement with Taliban leaders on Saturday that is intended to end the US’ 18-year involvement in Afghanistan. The [...] More

Middle EastIntelligenceTerrorismDoDnational securitySecurity/StabilityEuropeGlobal IssuesAsiaReportingRussiaAfghanistanCounterterrorismISIS
OSINT Global Trendline Report

OSINT Global Trendline Report

The Cipher Brief’s Open Source Trend Line Report utilizes open source data on a quarterly basis to track trends around the world that impact national [...] More

AfricaMiddle EastGlobal IssuesEuropeAsiaReportingAmericasRussiaIranNorth KoreaChinaAfghanistanNorth AfricaSyriaIraqSaudi ArabiaIsraelNorth AmericaLatin AmericaISISUnited States

The Islamic State Names Its New Caliph

Intel Brief

The Islamic State Names Its New Caliph

Bottom Line Up FrontFollowing the recent death of Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the so-called Islamic State announced its new leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashemi [...] More

Middle EastSoufan CenterISISIntel Brief

No Longer Worried About ISIS? Think Again.

John McLaughlin

No Longer Worried About ISIS? Think Again.

The killings of ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi and his possible deputy by U.S. special operations forces are major losses for the extremists, ones [...] More

Middle EastCipher Brief Expert ViewTerrorismISISSecurity/Stability